George Bothner
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Born on June 5, 1867 to a piano maker and a gymnast, in his father, in New York, Bothner would become one of the most respected wrestlers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He dropped out of school so he could get a job, one that didn't pay much at only 10 cents a day ($2.38 in today's money), but swatting flies off of the meat in the butchers shop was a job nonetheless. To supplement his income he worked as an errand boy also.
He was trained by Gus Bogus and his team at the Old Pastime Athletic Club in New York and finished second in his first amateur tournament during 1884 and finished second in the 125 weight class. He would find further success in the amateur division in the following year before being offered a position at the New York Athletic Club by another very well respected wrestler, Hugh Leonard.
It was while in this club he became a professional. While he found immediate success and was a favorite of the Police Gazette sporting crowd before the turn of the century, it wouldn't be until 1903 when he reached arguably the highlight of his professional career. As on April 2 in the New Polo Athletic Club Gymnasium he took on Tom Riley, billed as the English Lightweight Champion, and came out the victor in two straight falls. Going forward Bothner, in America, would be known as the World Lightweight Champion. He'd lose a series of bouts with Eugene Tremblay through-out 1907 and 1908, the first of which being on April 5. Tremblay won the title with the first match in Montreal, but Bothner continued to claim recognition and be recognized by some people.
Although he'd never win the title again, Bothner would continue to wrestle and was one of them wrestlers you never see a bad word about. He was still stepping into the ring in 1914, but his main point of concern was training. As he'd bought himself a gym as soon as he had enough money
and set about training people. He didn't retire fully until the age of 53, but by that time he was mainly just refereeing bouts. Even then, he hadn't stopped being active, he continued to tussle with pupils at his gymnasium well into his 70's. During WWII he even toured with other military entertainers to provide shows for the troops.
After taking on a jiu-jitsu expert in the White House for Theodore Roosevelt and training many, many wrestlers, his work with the military, and his general status as an honest citizen of New York really proved to help make Bothner a hero of the Northeast. When he passed away at the age of 87 on November 20, 1954 it was an event mourned by all who had seen or knew George Bothner.
Born on June 5, 1867 to a piano maker and a gymnast, in his father, in New York, Bothner would become one of the most respected wrestlers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He dropped out of school so he could get a job, one that didn't pay much at only 10 cents a day ($2.38 in today's money), but swatting flies off of the meat in the butchers shop was a job nonetheless. To supplement his income he worked as an errand boy also.
He was trained by Gus Bogus and his team at the Old Pastime Athletic Club in New York and finished second in his first amateur tournament during 1884 and finished second in the 125 weight class. He would find further success in the amateur division in the following year before being offered a position at the New York Athletic Club by another very well respected wrestler, Hugh Leonard.
It was while in this club he became a professional. While he found immediate success and was a favorite of the Police Gazette sporting crowd before the turn of the century, it wouldn't be until 1903 when he reached arguably the highlight of his professional career. As on April 2 in the New Polo Athletic Club Gymnasium he took on Tom Riley, billed as the English Lightweight Champion, and came out the victor in two straight falls. Going forward Bothner, in America, would be known as the World Lightweight Champion. He'd lose a series of bouts with Eugene Tremblay through-out 1907 and 1908, the first of which being on April 5. Tremblay won the title with the first match in Montreal, but Bothner continued to claim recognition and be recognized by some people.
Although he'd never win the title again, Bothner would continue to wrestle and was one of them wrestlers you never see a bad word about. He was still stepping into the ring in 1914, but his main point of concern was training. As he'd bought himself a gym as soon as he had enough money
and set about training people. He didn't retire fully until the age of 53, but by that time he was mainly just refereeing bouts. Even then, he hadn't stopped being active, he continued to tussle with pupils at his gymnasium well into his 70's. During WWII he even toured with other military entertainers to provide shows for the troops.
After taking on a jiu-jitsu expert in the White House for Theodore Roosevelt and training many, many wrestlers, his work with the military, and his general status as an honest citizen of New York really proved to help make Bothner a hero of the Northeast. When he passed away at the age of 87 on November 20, 1954 it was an event mourned by all who had seen or knew George Bothner.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of George Bothner.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #17.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of George Bothner.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #17.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.